Japanese word

海外

Pronunciation

Romajikaigai

Meaning

  • nounoverseas

Example

私は海外に行きたいです。watashi wa kai gai ni i ki ta i de su

I want to go overseas.

Illustration for 海外 (overseas)

More examples

兄は海外で働いています。ani wa kai gai de hatara i te i ma su

My older brother works overseas.

Core concept

Refers to a foreign place viewed from one's own country, with distance across a national border as its core.

Common phrases

  • 海外に行くkai gai ni i ku

    go overseas

  • 海外に住むkai gai ni su mu

    live overseas

  • 海外で働くkai gai de hatara ku

    work overseas

Similar words

外国gaikoku: A country other than one's own.
国外kokugai: A place or area outside one's own country.

Definition in Japanese

自国の外にある外国の地域。ji koku no soto ni a ru gai koku no chi iki

Word origin

海外 (kaigai) is a compound of 海 (kai, "sea") and 外 (gai, "outside"), reflecting the older idea of foreign lands lying beyond the sea.

Usage tips

  • The noun 海外 (kaigai) describes more than travel, since people also use it for working, studying, or doing business outside their home country.

Opposites

Word lists with this word